Chain-machine.



vH.` A. STAPLES.

GRAIN MA'GHINE. APPLICATION PILEDTEB. zo. 190s.V

Patented Apr. 13; 1909.

` Hanns-SHEET 1.

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H. A. STAPLES.

CHAIN MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 313.20, 190s.

APatented Apr. 13, 1909;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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E. A. STAPLES. A 'y CHAIN MACHINE. APPLIUATION IILED'PBB. 20. 1908.

vPatented Apr. 13, 1909.' A sHmzTs-SHEBT a.

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H- A. STAPLES.

OHAIN MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 2211.20. 190s.

.Patented A131113, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

HARRY A. STAPLES, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

CHAIN -MACHINE To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HARRY A. STAPLES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhodeisland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inChain-Machines, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved chain machine. Fig. 2 is aview partly in elevation and partly in section on line a aof Fig. 3.Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and lpartly in section on line b tof Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the parts shown in the upper portion of Fig.3, but with the pin withdrawn from engagement with the lowerrnost linkin the feed chute. Fig. 5 is a view f partly in elevation and partly insection on line c c of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a view partly in elevation andpartly in section on line d d of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail viewillustrating the method of connecting two consecutive links of a chain.Fig. 3 is a view in elevation illustrating the means for spreading apartthe ends of a link for the insertion of the next preceding link. Fig. 9is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on line e e ofFig. 1. Fig. 10 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section online ff of Fig. 1. Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views of the spreaders andchain-gripping devices. Figs. 7, 8, 11 and 12 are on a much enlargedscale. Figs. 13, 14, and are detail views.

My invention relates to machines for makin 'ewelers chains and consistsof the novel construction and combination of the several partshereinafter described as specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings 1 represents the main shaft of the machine rotatablymounted in bearings 2 at the two opposite ends of the frame. The shaft lis driven by the pulley 3, which is keyed to it at one end thereof, andit is also provided at its opposite end with a beveled gear 4. A collar5 is fastened on the shaft 1 by a set screw 6 and holds the said shaftagainst longitudinal movement in one direction, and a collar 7 isfastened on said shaft by a set screw 8 and holds said shaft againstlongitudinal displacement in the opposite direction.

The various actuating cams, mounted on `the main shaft 1 of the machine,are described as follows: There are several cams Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application led February 20, 1908.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Serial No. 416,864.

upon the shaft 1, keyed or otherwise secured to it so as to turntherewith. The first cam may be called the vertical feed cam and isdesignated in the drawings as 8. lt is shown in Fig. 3 and is anarc-shaped cam, approximately 232o in extent on its curved periphery,and the remaining part of its edge is straight, as shown at Sa. It isprovided with a lift or high part 9. Adjacent to the vertical feed cam Sis the lateral feed cam 10, consisting of a circular disk, upon whoseedge is a concentric iiange 11 of larger diameter and which has twobeveled sides 11 a and 11b. rFliere are two link-spreading cams on theshaft 1, indicated as 12 and 13, respectively, each having a cylindricalbody. rFhe cam 12 has a concentric flange 14 of larger diameter, whoseinner face is beveled and formed with the swell 15. ln like manner thecam 13 has a concentric fiange 16 of larger diameter, whose inner faceis beveled and formed with a swell 17. Between the link-spreading cams12 and 13 a link-holding cam 1S is fastened on the shaft 1, as indicatedin full lines in Fig. 1 and by dotted lines in Fig. It has thearc-shaped periphery of a small diameter and the arcshaped concentricperiphery of a larger diameter as plainly illustrated in Fig. 6 withcurved slopes from the larger to the smaller portions. On the main shaft1 is next in order a cam 19 for giving reciprocating longitudinalmovement to the slide, which advances the link-gripping jaws to thework. rhis cam 19 has a cylindrical body and a collar or flange 20fastened thereon, whose inner face has the spirally directed camsurfacehereinafter more fully described. he next cam marked 21 is fastened tothe main shaft 1 and serves to operate the sleeve for opening andclosing the gripping jaws. This cam 21 has a cylindrical body and acollar or flange 22, whose inner face has the peculiar cam-surfaceshereinafter described. The cam 23 on the main shaft 1 has thesector-shape shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and gives -a limited, periodical,intermittent rotation to the gripping jaws and their connected parts.

rFwo brackets 24, 24, are secured by screws 25, 25, to the end of theframe which is opposite to the pulley 3 and are provided with bearings26, 26, at their outer ends. A shaft 27 is mounted in said bearings. Abevel gear 28 is fastenedby a set screw 29 upon one end of the shaft 27and meshes with the bevel gear 4 (of the same diameter and number ofteeth) the last named gear being secured upon the4 main shaft 1 by theset screw 30. Collars 31, 32, are secured by set screws 33, 33, to theshaft 27 in position contiguous to the bearings 26, 26, and hold theshaft 27 from longitudinal displacement. drum34 is loosely mounted uponthe shaft 27.

The mechanism for feeding the chain links to the machine is described asfollows: The general purpose of this machine is to connect togetherswaged links to form a chain. These links are separately fed by hand, orotherwise, to a chute or spout 3.5, which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2,3 and 4. The links so fed are designated as 36 in Fig. 2 and rest, oneupon another, by gravity, the lowermost link, designated as 132X in thedrawings, being supported loosely by means of the spring fork comprisingtwo light springs 37, of suitable curvature for said purpose, which arelocated at the bottom of the chute or spout 35 and are held by screws orpins 38. A hanger 39 extends down from the frame 40 of the machine andhas ear pieces 41. A lever arm 4,2 is mounted in the ear pieces 41 by apivot 43. A pin 44 extends from the side of the lever arm 42. A slidebar 45 is mounted loosely on the bed or frame of the machine. A block 46upon the upper outer end of the slide bar 45 is normally in contact withthe pin 44 of the lever 42. The slide bar 45 has the two lone gitudinalslots 47, 48, through which, respectively, screws or pins 49 and 50 passloosely into the bed of the machine, thus confining the slide bar 45 toa straight linearmovement, A spiral spring 51, fastened at one end to aneye 52 on the edge of the slide bar 45, is fastened at its opposite endto the bottom of a hanger 53, which extends down from a xed support orbracket 54. Another hanger 55 extends down from the bracket 54. Thebracket 54 is supported upon a table 56, which is mounted on legs 57,the latter resting on the bed of the machine, A rack bar 58 is slidableon the under surface of the table 56 and is provided with twolongitudinal slots 59, 60, through which, respectively, screws 61, 62,pass loosely and enter the table 56. A spiral spring 63 is fastened atone end to the eye 64 on the side of the rack bar 58 and at the oppositeend to the hanger 53. A horizontal carrier bar or slide 65 is looselymounted upon the upper surface of the table 56, between parallel ways66, and its outer end is in contact with the rounded edge of the bentend or head 67 of the lever arm42. A spiral spring 68 is fastened at oneend to an eye 69 on the head 67 of the lever arm 42 and at the op ositeend toa post 70, which extends up from the horizontal carrier bar 65.

An oscillatingcarrier 71 has two shoulders 72 and an intermediatelongitudinal projection or tongue 73, the latter being made with atransverse slot 74.- The oscillating carrier 71 is connected with thehorizontal carrier bar 65 by a pivot 75, on one end of which pivot -agear 76 is mounted and fastened to the oscillating carrier 71; whoseteeth mesh with the teeth of the rack bar 58. The inner end of theoscillating carrier 71 has a tongue 77, which enters a slot in theadjacent end of the hOIZOIltal carrier 165 and is there pivoted, asshown at in Fig. 3.

The oscillating carrier 71 has an extensible head or link receptacle 78,which is provided with a central longitudinal slot to receive .thetongue 73 of the oscillating carrier 71. This extensible head 78 has atransverse slot, through which a pin 79 passes loosely `across the slot74 of the tongue 73. The pin 79 in cross section is oblong andrectangular. On the oscillating carrier 71 is la block 80, in a nick kofwhich one end of a bow spring 81 is engaged. The .opposite end of thespring -81 bearsy against ,the inner end of the extensible head 78, thusnormally holding the head 7.8 in its extended position, with the pin 79oc cuying the outer end of the .slot 74, as seen 1n 1g. 2.

A block 82 is supported by the table .56 and a screw 83 passingthroughSaid block serves as an adjustable stop t0 limit the upward movement ofthe oscillating carrier 71 and to cause it normally to stand in a truevertical position.

A table 84 is supported by legs 85, 86. The legs 85 rest .upon the table56 and the leg 86, rests upon the bed of the machine. rlhe table 84 isslotted, as shown at 87 in Fig. 2, to allow oscillatory movement .of thecarrier 71 and `extensible head 78, as illustrated in said Fig. 2. Thetable 84 is also slotted at 88., as shown in Fig. .3.

A supporting block 89 is provided with e. slot, fitting the `chute orspout 35, and is integral with or rests upon the table 84. The block 89is cut away, as indicated in Fig. 2, to afford spaces for the action ofthe springs 37. On the opposite side of the chute or spout 35 is achanneled upright piece 90, separately shown in Fig. 13, constituting byits parallel flanges 90,l 90', a vertical guide way. A slide 91 shown inFig. 1 5, has two parallel sides 92 (see Fig. 14), each of which isprovided with a vertical slot 93,. Each of said parallel sides 92 hasalso a vertical slot 94. A screw 95 passes through each flange of theupright piece 90 loosely into one of the slots 93 of the flanges 92 ofthe slide 91. A springpressed arm 96 is mounted by ya ivot 97 betweenthe two anges 92 of the sli(- e 9]. A spring 98 is mounted in a socketin the arm 96, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and has its outer end bearingagainst the. slide 91.

The .table 84 has a vertical guide-way 99, provided with parallelflanges 100. A vertically movable bar 101 is mounted between themill-,PiesV Of the guide-way 99., and is previded with a horizontallyextending foot 10,2,

whose outer end is represented in Fig. 3 as resting upon the corner 8bof the link-feed cani 3. At the u"pper end of the bar 101 is a hori-Zontal table or bracket 103 slotted or bifurcated at 104 to receiveloosely the flanges 92 of the slide 91.. A cross pin 105 extends throughthe table or bracket 103, across the slot 104'and passes through theslots 94 of the 'flanges 92 of the slide 91, as seen in Figs. 1, 3 and4, and bears against the outer edge of the arm 96, by means of thespring 98, which presses said arm 96 out into said contact with thecross pin 105. The lower part of the arm 96 has a sloping edge, as seenat 106. On the opposite edge of the arm 96 at the bottom thereof is apin 107, which passes loosely through a slot at 108 the bottom of thechute 35 into said chute.

A lever .109 is mounted by a screw pivot 110 upon a bracket 111, whichextends from the bed of the machine, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The lever109 has a pin or cam-surface 112, against which the cam-surfaces 11aLand 11b of the cam 10, 11, travel. The inner end of the lever' 109 iscurved upward and connected by the pivot 113 to the slide bar 45. Thespring 51 gives return movement to the slide bar 45.

A pin 115 from the bracket 103 supports a spring 114 and the other endof said spring is attached to the vertical guide-way 99. A spring 116,attached to a in 117, which extends from the horizonta table or bracket103, is secured at its bottom to the bed or frame of the machine. Aspring 113, attached to a pin 119, which extends from the horizontalfoot 102, is secured at its bottom to the bed or frame of the machine.

The mechanism for opening or spreading the links is described asfollows: A standard or upright piece 121 is fastened to the bed of thefmachine, and has a rectangular transverse slot, best seen in Fig. 5, andpartially occupied by the spreaders 122 and 123. The upper spreader 122is pivoted to the standard 121 by the screw 124, and the lower spreader123 is pivoted to the standard 121 by the screw 125. The standard 121 iscut away on its edge to receive the tail ends of said spreaders, asillustrated in Fig. 6. Each spreader has a rectangular opening 126, asbest seen in Fig. 7, and a concavity 127, on the opposite edge. Thethinning of the upper spreader 122, as seen in Fig. 5, offers a space123 for the curvilinear travel of the head 73 of the oscillating carrierarm 71. The spreaders 1.22 and 123 have cam pins 129, 130, at theirrespective outer ends, of which one (129) is shown in Fig. 6. The campin 129 rests at its bottom on the peripheral surface of the cylindricalbody of the cam 12, and said cam pin 129 bears laterally against thatside of the flange 14, which is provided with camsurfaces 15, as shownin Fig. 1. In like inanner, the cam pin 130 of the spreader 123 rests atits bottom on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical body of the cam13 and said cam pin 130 bears laterally against that side of the flange16, which is provided with camsurfaces 17, as shown in said figure. Thespreaders 122 and 123 have in the axial line of their rotation the twovertical slots, illustrated in Fig. 6, which two slots, when the saidspreaders are in the position shown in said figure registerlongitudinally to form one continuous slot 131. By comparing Figs. 2 and5 it is seen that the link 132X indicated in two places in Fig. 2 (oncein solid lines and once in dotted lines) has come into position betweenthe spreaders 122 and 123 in a vertical position, as represented in Fig.5, which position is in said slot 131 of Fig. 6. The mechanism fortemporarily holding the link 132X after it has been connected to thechain is described as follows. In a slot or recess formed in the outervertical edge of the standard or upright piece 121 is mounted acylindrical barrel or piece 132. A bracket 133 is fastened by screws 134to the edge of the bed of the machine. The barrel 132 has aconcentrically reduced extension or stein 135, shown in Fig. 6, whichpassing through a bearing in the bracket 133 constitutes a pivotalconnection therewith. A screw 136, extending through the lip of thestandard 121, enters the top end of the barrel 132 and forms the upperpivot thereof. A collar 137 has a radial arm 133, and said collar isfastened by a screw 139 to the extension or stein 135 of the barrel 132,so that said collar and barrel lturn together. Midway the barrel 132, isa cam 140, fastened thereon and turning therewith. A lever arm 141 ismounted by a pivot 142 to a bracket 143, which extends froin the bed ofthe machine. The upper aart of the lever arm 141 is provided with aliead 144, whose end is in contact with the peripheral edge of the cam13, which cam is shown in solid lines in Fig; 1 and in dotted lines inFig. 6. A link bar 145 is connected at one end to the lower end. of thelever arm 141 by the pivot 146, and at its opposite end to the outer endof the radial arm 138 of the collar 137 by a pivot 147. A spiral spring148 is fastened at one end to an eye 149 on the link bar 145 and at theopposite end to the ear or pin 150 of the bracket 151, hereinafterdescribed. rlwo holding jaws 152 and 153 are mounted on the standard 121by pivots 154 and 155, respectively. The outer ends of the jaws 152 and153 rest upon the cam 140. A spiral spring 156 extends from one of saidjaws to the other, and is fastened at its ends to the pins 157 and 153.Stop pins 159, 160, from the standard 121 limit the inward movement ofthe free ends of the jaws 152, 153.

The mechanism for operating the linkgripping and link-turning devicesare as follows: A slide bar 169 is movable on the bed of the machinethrough a guide 162. The machine bed has a longitudinal slot 163, aboutmidway its length, which is shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1. and 9. Apin 164, passing through said slot in the bed of the machine andindicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 9, limits the longitudinaltravel of the slide bar 169. A lever arm 165 is movable on the undersurface of the bed of the.

machine and is mounted thereon by the pivot 166, as indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 1. The lever arm 165 is supported upon a bracket 151 onthe underside of the bed of the machine, shown in dotted lines in Fig.1, in elevation in Fig. 9 and in cross section in Fig. 6. A cam pin 167projects upwardly from one end of the lever arm 165 and is in operativecontact with the cam surfaces on the side of the flange 20 of the cani19 of main shaft 1. dotted lines in 1, is fastened at one end to an eyeon the lever arm 165 and at the opposite end to an eye extending fromthe bed of the machine, as shown in said figure. The slide bar 169 has abent extension 170. A bearing 171 is secured to the bed of the machine.A sleeve 1 72 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 173, which extends upfrom the bed of the machine. YThe sleeve 172 is provided withcircumferential groove 1. 74. The end of the sleeve 172, which iscontiguous to the standard 122, has its bore conically enlarged so as toform a circular camsurface, indicated at 175. A collar 176 surrounds thesleeve 172, and has two opposite radiallydirected pins 177, whichproject loosely into the circumferential groove 174 of said sleeve. Atube 17 8 is mounted in the bore of the sleeve 172 andin the bearing'171, as best shown in Fig. 5, and is provided with an annular groove, asthere seen, into which the bent end 170 of the slide 161 enters loosely.A wide gear 179 is fastened on the tube 178. A lever arm 180 is mountedby a pivot 181 upon a bracket 182, which ex tends from the bed of themachine. The lever arm 180 has a cam pin 183, whose bottom rests on thecylindrical body of the 21 and has its side in operative contact withthe cam-surfaces on the side of the Hange 22. The collar 176 is fastenedto the under side of the lever arm 180 and is carried thereby. The cam23 operates against a vertical piece or strip 184. A rack bar 185 havingteeth 186, as shown in Fig. 9, to mesh with the teeth of the gear 179,is secured at one end to the vertical piece or strip 184 and is providedwith two longitudinal slots 187, 188, adapted to limit the longitudinaltravel of said rack bar. A pin 189, passes through a post 190, extendingfrom the end piece 191 of the machine, and engages loosely with the rackbar 185 in the slot 188 thereof. A post 192 extends up from the bed ofthe machine,

.and a pin 193 passes loosely through the slot A spiral spring 168,shown in 187 into said post. The rack bar 185 has a bent-up end 194 anda spiral spring 195 is .at tached at one end to an eye 196 if the bentend 194 and at its opposite end to an eye 197 of a post 198, whichextends up from the bearing 2. The tube 178 has a central 1ongitudinalbore 199, through which the chain 200, as made, passes to the drum 34.In the enlarged end of the tube 178 are mounted two gripping jaws 201,202, each having a sloping cam edge 203, adapted to coperate with thecam-surface 175 of the bore of the sleeve 172. The gripping jaws 201,202, are mounted on pivots 204 and 205, respectively. Each gripping jaw201 and 202 has its inner end hooked or notched, and a flat spring 206is engaged at one end with said inner end of the jaw, as illustrated inFig. 5, and its opposite end is inserted in the tube 178, which islongitudinally grooved to allow space for the action of the saidsprings. The function of said springs 206 is to spread apart normallythe outer ends of said gripping jaws, as illustrated in Fig. 12. Aspiral spring 207 is secured at one end to the pin 129 of the spreader122 and at the opposite end to the pin 130 of the spreader 123. A spiralspring 208 is secured at one end to the pin 183 of the lever arm 180 andat its opposite end to a pin 209 on the post 198. On the shaft 27 afriction disk 210 is fastened and mounted in rubbing contact with thedrum 34. rThe disk 210 has a concentrically reduced neck 211, which isprovided with an annular groove. A set screw 212 passing through theneck 211 secures `the disk 210 in its adjusted position by the pressureof said set screw against the shaft 27. 1n this manner, the disk 210 isforced to whatever frietional engagement thereof with the drum 34 may bedesired and is held in such adjusted position.

The operation of my improved chain machine is described as -follows: Theswaged links, which are to be united in series to form a chain, are fedby hand to the chute 35 and fall by gravity therein. The lowermost ofthese links, designated as 132X in the drawings, rests upon the twoinwardly curved springs 37. At this time the link-feeding devices are inthe position shown in Fig. 3. The horizontally extending foot 102 isresting on the straight surface 85t of the cam 8, and the vertical bar101 and the table or bracket 103 are in their lowermost position. Thecross pin 105, carried by the table or bracket 103, is down nearly tothe bottom of the slots 94 of the flanges 92 of the slide 91, andbearing against the spring-pressed arm 96 forces said arm to a verticalposition, thus thrusting the pin 107 through the lowermost link 132 inthe chute 35, all as illustrated in Fig. 3. Power, communicated fromaproper source, is applied to the pulley 3 and rotates it in thedirection indicated by the arrow 213, thus rotating in the samedirection all the cams and the gear which are on the main shaft 1. r1`hecam 8, moving as indicated by the arrow thereon in Fig. 3, liits by itscorner or portion 8b the horizontally extending foot 102, and with itthe vertical bar 101 and the table or bracket 103, thus raising saidparts to the position shown in Fig. 4. 1t is here seen that the crosspin 105 has moved up along the slots oi' the iianges 92 o'l'l the slideQ1, thus enabling the spring 98 to press the arm 96 into the angularposition represented in Fig. 4. This movement ol' the arm 96 carries thepin 98 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig.4. The pin 107, which in Fig. 3 is shown as extending through thelowerinost link 182 oi the series in the chute 35, in moving downward asdescribed, pulls down said lowermost link and disengages said link fromthe springs 37 and delivers said link into the upper end ol the head 78oi' the oscillating link carrier 71, then standing in a verticalposition, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The entire function oi the cam 8 isto feed the links from the chute 35 to the head 78 of the carrier 71,including the said oscillatory movement oi' the springepressed arm 96,and to hold the parts shown in Fig. 4 in their elevated position thererepresented, during all the time the Yl'oot 102 is in contact with thearc-shaped periphery oi' the cam 8.

The extra lift or high part 9 of the cani 8 is designed to give a slightfinal rise to the i'oot 102 and its connected parts for the purpose otlifting the table or bracket 103 and its connected parts so that the pin107 rises into position to engage the then lowermost link 132X in thechute 35 which is next to be united with the chain. The rising `movementof the i'oot 102 and connected parts is caused by the rotation oi' thecam 8, while its corner 8b is moving lrictionally along the straightunder side oi' the loot 102. his upward movement stretches the springs114, 116 and 118, and when the lift 0 ol' the cam 8 clears in itsrotation theJ under side oi' the l'oot 102, said springs, being thenfree to act, contract and automatically return the parts shown in Fig. 4to their former position shown in Fig. 8.

The cam 10 commences work as soon as the parts shown in Fig. 4 have comeinto the position there represented. At this time the said lowermostdetached link 132X has been delivered to the head 78 of the carrier 71,then in the position illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 1, and the linkin the chute, which has become in its turn the lowermost in the chute35, falls by gravity into contact with the springs 37 The cam 10 inrotating presses its cam-surfaces on the side of the flange 11, whichcam-surfaces bear against the pin or cam-surface 112 on the lever arm100 and so gives to the lever arm 109 a slight horizontal oscillation onits pivot 110. The opposite end of the lever arm 109, being 'versemovement ofthe rack bar 58.

pivoted at 113to the slide or bar 45, causes said bar 45 to slide on thebed of the machine. The block 46 on the slide bar 45 presses the pin 44on the le'ver arm 42 and also the bent end or head 67 of the lever arm42 against the outer end of the horizontal carrier bar 65, which ismounted on the table 56 and guided by the ways 66. The carrier bar 65 ispivotally connected at 75, with the oscillating carrier 71. Theoscillating carrier 71 is provided with the gear 76, whose teeth meshwith the teeth of the rack bar 58. The result is that the pushingmovement of the lever arm 42, moves the horizontal carrier bar 65, whichcauses the gear 76 partially to rotate by the engagement of said gearwith the rack bar 58. This partial rotation of the gear 76 moves thecarrier 71 (and its head 78) from the position shown in solid lines inFig. 2 to the position shown in dotted lines in said iigure and on tothe horizontal position shown in Fig. 5. 1n traveling in this curve thehead 78 of the carrier 71 enters into the space 128 (Fig. 5)

and the final push of the head or bent end 67 of the lever 42 againstthe horizontal carrier 65, causes the outer end of the head 78 to enterthe rectangular slot or opening 126 (Figs. 7, 11, 12) and delivers thelink 132 into the slots 131 of the spreaders, the bow spring 81 yieldingfor that purpose. To ace complish this final movement of the carriers 65and 71, as no further rotation of the gear 76 is possible, it isnecessary that the rack bar 58 should have an additional limitedmovement lengthwise equal to said extra movement of said carriers, andthis is made possible by the slots 59 and 60. The return movement of thelever 109 is caused by the spring 51. This return movement of the lever109 causes the slide bar 45 to move inwardly. The block 46 on the slidebar 45, as said slide bar moves inwardly, presses against the pin 44 ofthe lever 42 and causes the lever 42 to move from the position shown inFig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 5, the hanger 55 serving as a stopto limit the re- The return movement of the carriers 65 and 71 is causedby the spring 68. The screw 83 in the block 82 is adjusted as a stop tolimit the return'movement of the carrier 71 and to cause it to take atrue vertical position.

The operation of the cams 12 and 18 will now be explained. rFhese camsactuate the spreaders 122 and 123. The link 132X is brought into theposition shown in Fig. 5 by the action oi the carrier 71 and its head78. 1t then projects through the slot 131 of the spreaders 122 and 123and is in proximity to the gripping jaws 201.A and 202, which will soonperform their function upon it. But this link, when in the position andcondition illustrated in Fig. 5, has its ends in abutment with eachother, and the whole link, from end to end, eXtends in one verticalplane as represented in Fig. 11, it is necessary, before it can beunited to the chain 200 and become a part thereof, that its two endsshould be separated from each other, that is, spread apart, into theshape shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and designated therein as 132, When theends of the link 132 are thus spread, the last formed link 1321, whichhas been united to the chain 200, can be inserted in the link 132TL inthe manner illustrated in Fig. 7. This spreading action is accomplishedas shown in Fig. 6. The upper open end of the link is in the verticalslot oi the upper spreader 122, :and the lower open end of the same linkis inthe vertical slot of the lower spreader 123. These two spreadersare slightly oscillated in directions opposite to .each other, asindicated by the arrows 214 and 216 in Fig. 7,. The spreaders 122 and123 4turn lon the pivots or screws 124 and 125, respectively, as theirrespective cam pins 129 and 130 are pressed by the respectivecani-surfaces 15 and 17. The spring 207 serves to maintain the operativecontact .of the cam pins l129 and 130 with the cam-surfaces 15 and 17,respectively. The result of this earn action is that the link is firstopened or spread apart at its ends as in 132il and then after the link132b is inserted in said opened link 132a as hereinafter explained, thesaid cams 12 and 13, close said link again and bring the link endstogether in abutment as before. The link 132a having been thus united tothe chain is drawn out ol' the slots of the spreaders 122, 123, ashereinafter explained, but the holding jaws 152, 153, then close uponsaid link as illustrated in Fig. 12 in order that the chain may not bedrawn too lar. This function is performed by the cam 18 lof the mainshaft 1 as follows. At such time during the link-connecting operation asAt-he said last link has been wholly withdrawn from the spreaders 122and 123, and the gripping jaws 201 and 202 are disengaged from the chain200 (which condition is illustrated in Fig. 12), it is necessary thatthe chain should be held securely. 1t is then so held by means of theholding-jaws 152 and 153. 1n their holding position they are shown incross section in Fig. 12, and in elevation in Fig. 6. These jaws areactuated by the cam 18, which moves the lever arm 141, pivotally mounted`at 142. The link bar 145 is moved by the lever arm 141 and imparts anoscillation to the radial arm 138 oi the collar 137 which collar beingfastened to the stem 1.35 of the barrel 132 gives an e ual oscillationto said barrel.`

By this osci ation the cam 140 of the barrel 132 moves in and out of thespace between direction.

The return of said parts to their Iformer position is eeeted by the'spring 148.

The operation ol' giving linear movement to the link-connectingmechanism is thus described. The rotation of the earn 19 with itscam-surface 20 oscillates the lever arm 165 by the contact of its pinwith said carnsurface 20. This lever arm 165 is supported by the bracket151 and .turns on a pivot 166.

A pin 164 'from the lever `arm 165 passes through the slot 163 in the.bed of the inachine, and enters the slide or bar 169. Thus alongitudinal reciprocating motion is ygiven to t-he slide bar 169 by thecani 19, said bar being coniined to a .linear direction by said pin 1.64and slot 163 and by the guide 162. This .reciprocating movement ol'theslide bar 169 is communicated by the bent end or extension 17.0thereof to the outer yend `of the gear 179, ywhich being splined to the-tube 178, as illustrated -in Fig. 9, gives an equal reciprocation, tothe same extent, to the tube 17-8 and its connected parts. The tube 178on its opposite end carries the two pivotally mou-nted grippin jaws 201and 202 These jaws are normal y kept open or apart at theirouter endsbymeans o 'f the springs 2106, Awhenever they are extended out beyondthe sleeve 172, as in Fig. 12, but whenever these jaws are withdrawnwithin the sleeve 1.72, as in Figs. 1, 5, 7 and 11, the cani-surface 175of the end ol' the sleeve 172 closes the outer ends of these jaws4together and in that vposition said jaws grip ythe last united link1321), as seen in. Figs. 5, 7 and 11. The return movement of the slidebar 169 and the parts actuated thereby is given by the spring 168. Theperiodical intermittent rotation .of the tube 178, amounting .to aquarter-turn, is caused by t-he cam 23 ol' the main shaft 1, whichpushes the vertical plate 184 .of the rack bar 185, whose teeth 186engage .the teeth oi' the gear 179 upon the tube 178. The returnmovement ol' the said rack bar and gear are caused by the spring 195.The gear 179 is made quite wide, as seen in Fig. 1 `so that the saidgear and the tube 178 may have the longitudinal reciprocation alreadydescribed without a'lier-,ting the rotation oi' said parts. Thelongitudinal reeiprocation vof the sleeve 172 lor the closing andopening of .the outer ends ofthe gripping jaws 201 and 202 is caused .byAthe carn 21 o1' the main shaft 1. The pin 183 oi the lever arm 180vfollows the cam-surfaces 2.2, and the pi-n 17 7 of the lever arm 180,`entering loosely the circumferential groove 174 oi the sleeve 172 which,is-mow able through the collar 176 orf said lever arm, causes saidmovement ol the sleeve 172 for the purpose specified. The vquar.t-n'.tu1'n of the said gripping jaws 201 and 202 in one direction .isindicated by the arrow 216 -in Fig. 7 and the ret-urn `movement is in.the opposite The entering position of .the last connected link oi thechain with relation to the link 132a is indicated by the diagonal dottedlines in Fig. 7. After the new link has been connected and closed toform a part of the chain, the link and chain are in the relativepositions illustrated in Fig. 11, and when the quarter-turn has beenaffected the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5, the grippingjaws 201 and 202 being then in engagement with the new link nowconnected and made part of the chain. The rotation of the main shaft 1,gears L and 28 and the shaft 27 causes the friction disk 210 to have arubbing contact with the drum 34, which, when the chain is not held bythe gripping jaws 201 and 202 or by the holding jaws 152 and 153, givesa slight rotation to the drum 34. Said frictional device 210, alsoallows the forward movement of the gripping jaws 201 and 22, indicatedby the arrow 217 in Fig. 5, to take place, which is necessary to movethe chain bodily in that direction (indicated by the arrow 21S) to allowthe insertion of the last connected link of said chain to be inserted inthe new link 12` a. As seen in Fig. 5, the chain, as completed, isreceived in the bore 199 of the tube 17 8 and passes to the drum 34 andthence to a pan or reel (not shown).

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent :w

1. In a chain machine, the combination of a main shaft; means to rotatethe same; mechanism for uniting the links to form a chain; a bevel gearfastened on said shaft; a second shaft mounted in bearings and extendingat a right angle to the main shaft g a beveled gear fastened on thesecond shaft engageable with the first named gear 3 a drum looselymounted on the second shaft; a friction disk fastened on the secondshaft and rotatable therewith continuously in one direction and adaptedby a rubbing contact with said drum to impart thereto a rotatorymovement in said direction; and means adapted to give said link-unitingmechanism a periodical rearward movement for the purpose of imparting areverse travel to the chain, and thereby to give a periodical rotatorymovement to said drum in the other direction, thus overcoming the saidnormal forward rotation of the drum.

2. In a chain machine, the combination of a chute adapted to hold aseries of links therein by gravity; a spring in the chute to holdagainst the action of gravity the lowermost link of said series in thechute; a bracket slidable in vertical ways; an oscillatory arm mountedpivotally in a support which is carried by said bracket g and a pinextending from the oscillatory arm and adapted to engage said lowermostlink and to detach the same from said spring and chute.

3. In a chain machine, the combination of a chute adapted to holdtherein a series of links by gravity; a spring in the chute to holdagainst the action of gravity the lowermost link of said series in thechute; a fixed support on said chute and provided with two parallelsides or ways; a bracket vertically movable along said xed supportbetween the parallel sides thereof g two oppositely arranged pins insaid parallel sides of said fixed support; an upright piece carried bysaid bracket and having two parallel sides, each of which has a verticalslot, into which slots said pins, respectively, extend loosely; anoscillatory arm pivotally mounted at its upper end between the lastnamed parallel sides and above said two pins; a detaching pin adaptednormally to engage with the said lowermcst link to withdraw said linkfrom the hold of said spring and to remove said link from the chute arotatable cam g means for rotating said cam; a vertically movable barslidable in guide-ways and provided with a horizontal foot which restson the operative surface of said cam; a horizontal table secured to saidvertical bar and provided with a slot as shown; a cross pin mounted insaid table and extending loosely across the slot last aforesaid as alsoloosely through the two slots of the last named parallel sides andcapable of a sliding contact with the edge of the oscillatory arm; and aspring adapted to maintain said contact between the oscillatory arm andthe cross pin last aforesaid.

l. ln a chain machine, the combination of a chute adapted to hold aseries of links by gravity; a spring in the chute to hold against theaction of gravity the lowermost link of the series in the chute; a fixedsupport on the chute and provided with two parallel sides, each having avertical slot; a bracket vertically movable along said fixed supportbetween the parallel sides thereof; two oppositely arranged pins in saidparallel sides of said 'fixed support; an upright piece carried by saidbracket and having two parallel sides, each of which has two verticalslots, into two of said slots, which are oppositely located, said pinsrespectively extend loosely, a spring-pressed oscillatory arm having anoutwardly sloping edge and pivotallymounted at its upper end betweensaid parallel sides of said upright piece and above said two pins; aconnection between the bracket and the upright piece adapted tooscillate said arm 5 a detaching pin adapted normally to engage with thelowermost link in the chute and to withdraw said link from the hold ofsaid spring in the chute and to remove said link from the chute; arotatable cam; means for rotating said cam; a vertically movable barslidable in guideways and provided with a horizontal foot which rests onthe operative surface of the cam; a horizontal table secured to saidvertical bar and provided with a slot as shown; a cross pin mounted insaid table and extending loosely through the two slots of the last namedparallel sides and capable of a sliding contact alongl the outertapering edge of the oscillatory arm to move said arm to a verticalposition against the action of the spring in said arm.

5. ln a chain machine, the combination of chute adapted to hold a seriesof links therein; a rotatable main shaft; means operated from the mainshaft to remove from the chute said links one by one; a link carrierpivotally mounted at one end and adapted to move into alinement withsaid chute and to receive therefrom a link; a mechanism for uniting.links to form a chain; and means for oscillating said link carrier fromits said position into a position contiguous to saidlink-unitingmechanism to deliver said link thereto.

6. ln a cl ain.machine, the combination of a link carrier, an extensiblehead mounted thereon and suitable to hold a link; and a springl mountedon the link carrier and adapted to hold said head in an extendedposition substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a chain machine, the combination of a link carrier having twoopposite shoulders and an intermediate longitudinal tongue which has alongitudinal slot; an extensible head having a link-holding orifice atits outer end and which is provided with a longitudinal slot arranged toreceive loosely said tongue; a pin extending through said head from sideto side and passing through said tongue slot and a spring normallyholding said head in its extended position.

8. ln a chain machine, the combination ol' a longitudinally movablecarrier bar, mounted slidably on a support; means for giving to saidcarrier bar a loi :itudinal reciprocating movement; en oscillatory linkcarrier mounted at the end of the said carrier bar upon a pivot; a gearmounted on the oscillatory link carrier concentricallywith said pivot;and a spring-actuated rack gear upon a support and meshing witli'saidgear.

Q. ln a chain machine, the combination of a longitudinally movablecarrier bar slidable upon a support; means for giving to said carrierbar a longitudinal reciprocation; an oscillatory-link carrier mounted atthe end of the said. carrier bar upon a pivot; a gear mounted on theoscillatory .link carrier concentrically withV said pivot; a springactuated. rack gear upon a support and meshing with said gear; avertical chute adapted to contain links and to deliver them scriatz'm tothe oscillatory link carrier in a head thereof; and a set screw in afixed support and constituting an adJustable stop to limit the upwardtravel of the oscillatory link carrier and to maintain it in verticalalinement with the vertical chute.

10. ln a chain machine, the combination of a lever arm pivotally mountedat one end upon the bed of the machine; a slide bar mounted upon the bedol the machine and pivotally connected with the other end ol said leverarm; a block upon said slide bar; a pivotally mounted lever arm movablein an inward direction by said block; a spring to give return movementto the second named lever arm; a carrier bar longitudinally movable bythe second named lever arm; an oscillatory link carrier pivotallymounted on the end of said carrier bar; a rack gear movable by thecarrier bar; and a gear fastened on the oscillatory link carrier androtatably engageable with the rack bar.

1.1. In a chain machine, the combination of a longitudinally movablecarrier bar slidable on asupport; an oscillatory link carrier pivotallymounted on said carrier bar; a

gear upon the oscillatory link carrier; means for imparting to saidcarrier bar a vlongitudiA nal reciprocating movement; arack gear slid-'able upon a support, held thereto by screws,

which pass through longitudinal slots therein into said support andhaving teeth in mesh with said gear; and a spring for giving returnmovement to said rack gear.

12. ln a chain machine, the combination of a -xed support; two spreaderspivotally mounted on said support in one axial line; means for impartingto said sv readers oscillatory movement in opposite irections; and meansfor introducing a chain link in registering slots of said two spreadersfor the purpose of opening said link and bending its abutting ends fromor to each other.

13. In a chain macln'ne, the combination of a iixed support; an upperspreader pivotally mounted on said support and having a vertical slotnear its inner end; a lower spreader pivotally mounted on said supportin the same axial line and having a vertical slot near its inner end,which two slots are in alinement when said two spreaders are in theirinoperative position; means for entering a link into said two slots whenthey are in alinement; and means for imparting to said spreadersoscillatory movements directed oppositely to each other.

ll. ln a chain machine, the combination of a rotatable main shaft; afixed support; an upper spreader pivotally mounted on said support andhaving a vertical slot near its inner end; a cam pin on the ou ter endot' the upper spreader; a lower spreader pivotally mounted on saidsupport in the same axial line and having a vertical slot near its innerend; a cam pin on the outer end of the lower spreader; a cam on the mainshaft adapted to give oscillatory movement to the upper spreader, and asecond cam on the main shaft adapted to give oscillatory movement to thelower spreader but in directions opposite to those of the upperspreader.

15. ln a chain machine, the combination of a tube mounted slidably insupports; means for giving to said tube a periodic longitudinal movementback and forth; a second tube longitudinally movable in the first namedtube and adapted to allow a passage of the manufactured chaintherethrough; means for giving said second tube a quarter-turn inalternately opposite directions; gripping jaws pivotally mounted at oneend of the second named tube and provided with springs adapted to keepthem normally spread; and closing means for said gripping jaws,comprising bevel cam edges thereon coperating with a bevel cam annularsurface in the bore of the jiirst named tube and in contact therewith.

16. ln a chain machine, the combination of a rotatable shaft; three camsfastened on said shaft; a tube slidably mounted on supports; a pair ofgripping jaws carried by said tube; a spring on the tube adapted to holdsaid jaws normally in open position; a slide bar mounted on the bed ofthe machine and having a limited linear movement thereon; a lever armpivoted at one end to the bed of the machine and pivotally connected tosaid slide bar; a cam pin on the opposite end of said lever arm inoperative contact with the Jiirst cam; a spring to give return movementto said lever arm; a sleeve loosely mounted on said tube and having onits interior surfaces cams adapted to impart a closing movement to saidjaws; a second lever arm pivotally mounted at one end to the bed of themachine; a cam pin in the opposite end of the second lever arm inoperative contact with the second cam; a pin mounted on the second leverarm and extending loosely into a circumferential groove on said sleeve;a spring to give return movement to said second lever arm; a gear uponsaid tube; a bent extension from said slide bar in contact with theouter end of said gear; a rack bar engageable with said gear andslidably mounted on supports; a cam pin at one end of the rack bar inoperative contact with the third cam; a spring to give return movementto said rack bar; a iXed support; a fourth cam on said shaft; twopivotally mounted lever arms operable by said fourth cam and adaptedalternately to spread and close the ends of each chain link in seriesfor the purpose of consecutively uniting said links to the chain oneafter another; two other pivotally mounted lever arms adapted tocoperate to hold a link and then to separate therefrom; a spring'between the tail ends of said last named lever arms and fastened toeach, respectively; a fifth cam fastened on said shaft7 and meansoperated by the last named cam and adapted periodically to spread apartthe said tail ends, the said fourth and fifth cams being so placed uponthe shaft and timed that the last named lever arms engageA the linkwhile the first named lever' arms are disengaged from the link and viceversa.

n testimony whereof l afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY A.. STAPLES. ldlitnesses ALFRED S. JonNsoN, ARTHUR P. JOHNSON.

